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The Productive Mac
Why You Should Use Mac OS 7.6 to Get the Most Out of Vintage Macs
- 2005.12.12
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If you still like using vintage Macs and want to get decent performance out of them, you either have to use older software that demands less of your computer or upgrade your hardware. Stuff like RAM for classic Macs is easy to find at places like computer recycling centers and even dumpsters.
If you don't have one close by, you'll have to buy them elsewhere, and many times that means they'll be more expensive. The problem is that you often end up spending more money on the upgrades than you did on the computer itself - unless, that is, you're the original owner.
A better solution to this problem, in my opinion, is to use an older operating system that doesn't require as much processing speed and RAM from your Mac. For most older Macs, that's System 7.
Mac OS 7.6.1 was the last version of system 7, so most of the bugs had been fixed and a few new features were added. That's why it's my system 7 of choice.
Mac OS 7.6 doesn't require much from your Mac, and it will run on most older ones as long as they have a 68030 processor or better. [7.6 requires a 32-bit clean Mac, 8 MB of memory, and at least 70 MB of hard drive space. ed]
A few of my friends don't understand why system 7 would be useful when you can easily run Mac OS 8 or Mac OS 9 on many older machine, but the way I look at it no matter which version you choose to use, it's still considered outdated by Apple, and using an older one will usually make your Mac seem quicker and more responsive.
Now don't get me wrong, I still like to use those newer OSes on old Macs, but only on the ones with high amounts of RAM or other special upgrades, such as my Quadra 800, which has 136 MB of RAM and is running Mac OS 8.0.
System 7 Today
A good
website I found out about a little while ago, System 7 Today, is all about
running system 7 on old Macs so you can get good performance out of
them. The creator of the website has a PowerBook 1400 upgraded with a G3 processor
that's still running Mac OS 7.6. This is another good example of
how you can get even better performance out of old Macs, even if
they have been upgraded a lot.
Older Macs are great - they can be very useful for everyday tasks, and they're also good for just messing around on to see what computers were like ten years ago. Go get your old Mac out of the closet and try system 7 on it.
And while you're doing it be sure to visit System 7 Today.
Recent Productive Mac articles
- New homes for 3 WallStreet PowerBooks, 04.07. Although they may need a little restoration work, these are fine machines for using the classic Mac OS in the field.
- Would you believe I picked up a decent old PowerBook for just $26?, 02.21. If you're looking for a low-cost, low-power laptop for light use, there are some real steals out there. Like this Powerbook 520c....
- What's a good, inexpensive, useful, older Mac? The PowerBook 1400, 02.01. Relatively compact and not especially heavy, the PowerBook 1400 is a great low-cost way to run the classic Mac OS - and it's portable.
- Yes, you can still be productive with the 20-year-old Mac Plus, 01.16. It's easy to come by a used Mac Plus very cheaply, and it can be a very nice writing tool - and even let you on the Internet.
- More in the Productive Mac index.
Links for the Day
- Mac of the Day: 17" iMac G4/800 MHz, July 2002 - The iMac 'grows up' with a 17" 1440 x 900 display.
- Group of the Day: LisaList supports Lisa users.
- November 8 in LEM history: 99: OS 9: I think I like it - 01: The simplified Mac life - Soured on Windows - Flea market Mac - 02: Little room for improvement in new 'Books - Combo drive upgrade for iceBooks - 04: Re-Porter - 05: Fix the old iMac or buy a Mac mini? - Apple's Copland project - 06: MacBook Core 2 - MacBook value equation - Cheap is as cheap does - 07: Problems with Classic mode in Tiger - The G4 Power Mac that won't run Leopard
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- Quad-Core CPU Makes Sense in MacBook Pro, OS X 10.6 Causing Overheating, Overseas Power, and More, The 'Book Review, 11.06. Also Late 2009 MacBook reviewed, how to add RAM to new MacBook, 18.4in Acer notebook used Intel i7, and SanDisk SSD chosen for Sony VAIO X.
- Dumping Macs for Google Apps, SSD in iMac, Late 2009 iMac Performance Problems, and More, Mac News Review, 11.06. /newsrev/09mnr/1106.html
- WiFi Paranoia, iMac-O-Lantern, Magic Mouse Does Click, Free Clipboard Managers, and More, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 11.05. Also strange time stamps, problem with ColorIt on Intel Mac, and the story behind OS X 10.5.4 install discs.
- IDE Is Dead; Long Live SATA!, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 11.04. SATA has displaced parallel ATA. While IDE hard drives haven't disappeared, the best deals are in SATA hard drives.
- QuickTime X in Snow Leopard Imports, Trims, and Publishes Video Quickly and Easily, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 11.04. The long, slow process of importing video into iMovie to edit it, then render it to another format, is history as QuickTime X does that much more quickly.
- More links in our archive.
Recent Deals
- Best Mac Pro Deals, 11.03. Used 2.66 GHz 4-core, $1,300; 3.0 8-core. $2,299; refurb 2.66 4-core Nehalem, $2,149; 2.93, $2,549; 2.26 8-core, $2,799; 2.93, $4,999.
- Best iPhone Deals, 11.03. New 8 GB iPhone 3G, $$99; refurb 16 GB 3GS, $149; new, $199; 32 GB, $299.
- Best 12" PowerBook G4 Deals, 11.03. Used 867 MHz SperDrive, $348; 1 GHz, $499; 1.33 Combo, $298; SD, $559; 1.5 Combo, $448; SuperDrive, $589.
- Best Power Mac G3 and PCI Video Card Deals, 11.02. Used beige 300 MHz, $25; G4/366, $49; blue & white 350, $80; 400, $90; 450, $105; PCI video cards from $15; shipping additional.
- Best Power Mac G4 and AGP Video Card Deals, 11.02. Used 400 MHz, $50; 733 MHz, $69; 933 MHz, $209; 1.25 GHz dual, $299.
- Best 15" MacBook Pro Deals, 11.02. Used 2.0 GHz, $800; 2.2, $900; 2.4, $1,000; refurb 2.53, $1,449; 2.66, $1,699; 2.8, $1,949; 3.06, $2,169; new 2.53, $1,579; 2.66, $1,799; more.
- Best Mac mini Deals, 10.30. Used 1.33 GHz G4 mini, $379; 1.42, $389; 1.5, $419; 1.83 GHz Core Duo, $350; Core 2, $439; new 2.26 GHz nVidia, $580; 2.53 GHz, $770; Server, $990.
- Best G4 iBook Deals, 10.30. Used 12" 1.07 GHz Combo, $225; 1.33 GHz, $298; 14" 1 GHz, $349; 1.33 GHz, $398; 1.42 GHz SuperDrive, $498.
- Best Classic Mac OS Deals, 10.30. System 6.0.8 floppies, $10; 7.1, $12; 7.5, $20; 7.5 CD, $4; 7.6 $13; 8.1, $11; 8.5, $20; 8.6, $90; 9.0, $20; 9.2.2, $30.
- More deals in our archive.
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